Polk County Public Schools
The public is invited to orchestra music concerts by middle and high school students on February 19 and 20 at Mulberry High. The concerts are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 19 and 8:30 a.m to 12 noon and 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. There is no cost to attend. Mulberry High is located at Northeast Fourth Circle. Orchestra students from middle and high schools will perform in intervals during both days. The concerts are judged by a state panel and the orchestras receive their annual state assessment and rating based on their performances. Selections chosen by schools include arrangements by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Handel, Schubert and Beethoven. Call (863) 647-4729 for the complete performance schedule by school.
The public is invited to the Polk County Spelling Bee at 6 p.m., Wednesday, February 24 at the McKeel Auditorium, 1810 West Parker St., Lakeland. There is no cost to attend. Middle school students will compete to become Polk County’s spelling bee champion. Thirty-nine students from 23 middle schools have qualified for the finals. Information: (863) 519-8798.
The Polk County Teacher Of The Year and School-Related Employee Of The Year Banquet will be broadcast live on cable and fiber optic television and the Internet. This invitation-only event at the Lakeland Center will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 25 on Polk County School Board Television airing on Bright House Networks channel 614, Comcast channel 7 and Verizon FiOS channel 45. The event will also be shown live simultaneously on PGTV, the county government’s channel on Bright House channel 622, Comcast channel 5 and Verizon FiOS channel 20. It can also be seen live on the school district’s Web site and the county government’s Web site. The event typically lasts approximately 2 and ½ hours. More than 1,000 people attend this annual event.
One teacher will be announced as Teacher Of The Year and one support staff person will be announced as School-Related Employee Of The Year at the event. Nearly 250 teachers and support personnel were nominated by their schools. Click here to read the list of nominees and their schools. Information: (863) 534-0699.
The public is invited to the 10th Annual History Fair to be held Friday, February 26, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Middle and high school students have submitted nearly 180 entries in historical research for the history fair. The fair includes video documentaries and live reenactments and performances. There is no charge to attend. The fair will be held at the Polk Historical Museum, 100 East Main Street, Bartow and the nearby First Baptist Church of Bartow, 410 East Church Street. Some students winning awards at the local History Fair will qualify to compete at the state History Fair in Tallahassee in May. Information: (863) 519-3708.
